Lots of love,
Catherine, Pippa, Kez, Hannah, Abi, Emma
xxxxxxx
Wednesday 19 February 2014
Monday 17 February 2014
Heyyy Catherine and Pippa here!
We are currently working in Amaoti 1 a primary school right at the top of the
hill, we are loving the views! Our days have been very unpredictable, we have
been reading with small groups or whole classes (there are so many kids in each
class), distributing uniforms and spent a lot of our time doing home visits. We
have had to be very spontaneous and teach lessons at the drop of a hat.
One home visit that stuck out to me was a trip we payed to
the home of a girl from the secondary school, her grandmother has recently had
a stroke so is cared for by the 13 year old who also has to help look after 3
small children. While we were there 2 of the little kids were helping their
grandmother wash her feet. There are so many other stories we could tell you.
We have just got back from walking from the school to the
office- a plan the rest of the team thought was insane but there is a nice
breeze today so we are still alive and ready for aftercare, the kids will appear
very soon!
At the weekend we went to the beach (Catherine is sporting some lovely patches of
burn where she missed the suncream) and then went to Moyo a traditional
restaurant on the seafront, the views at night are as amazing as during the day
(we will try and upload photos soon). Several of the team tried the curry,
tears then followed when they couldn’t handle the spice. On Sunday we went to
church twice again and then most of us had a well needed nap while Abi and
Pippa went for a run. We spent the evening watching Despicable Me 2 but only
got half way through before needing our beds!
Bye,
xxxxxx
Wednesday 12 February 2014
Heyyyy
Keziah and I have been working at the crèche this week, I have a bit of experience of working with this age group but even so it has been quite tough. Creche is for children aged between 2 and 5 (from what I can tell). They arrive between 7 and 8.30 am and are picked up by their mother or siblings between 2 and 3 pm. Compared o a British nursery there is very little structure and discipline. At first we found this quite difficult because it is not what we are used to but now I can really see the benefit this crèche has for the Amaoti community. Breakfast (porridge) and lunch (soup) is provided every day- without this the children would not get enough food to eat. It also provides a save place for these children to play and have fun during the day away from the responsibilities that some of them will already have at home.
At Easter the crèche will be relocated so that they have toilets nearby and I feel this move will realise the potential that this crèche has. The LI team are praying for an understanding of God's vision for the crèche and hopefully we as a team will be able to help improve the building by painting it and putting up posters . The crèche are in desperate need of more toys but they use what they have to have fun, there is a lot of singing, hand clap and being spun around. The children love hugs and plying with our hair which we weren't quite prepared for!!
Today we arrived at 8 and found the children playing with the toys in the hut, breakfast was served before we went into singing in a circle. This is how the children learn numbers and the alphabet by copying what the teacher sings, they also have songs for the days of the week and months. . We have introduced a new idea of splitting the group into 2 so that the children have longer with the craft resources- this has been working really well. I took 1 group outside to play with and created a game with hoops that they really took to, this was a real blessing because it is hard to communicate with the language barrier. In the afternoon it was so hot (32 degrees) that the children couldn't play outside but instead went to sleep before they had their soup. Once they woke up though they had a lot of energy and continued playing.
Next week we are looking forward to leading the crèche.
Lot of love
Hannah
The rest of the team have been working in a primary and secondary school, you'll hear all about it next time!
We have had time for some fun too! We have had some trips to the beach, girly sleepovers (we learnt, well tried to learn, African dancing, played dares and ate crisps!)and a tour of Durban!! We are all excited to explore the area in our beautiful car in our time off. Sunday also involved 2 church services, one in a more affluent area (which started at 7.45!!!) and one in Amaoti, they were so different. The songs, buildings and language differ so much! Trying new food has also been great, tea and rusks seems to be a daily ritual which everyone but me partakes in!
That's all for now!!
Catherine
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Keziah and I have been working at the crèche this week, I have a bit of experience of working with this age group but even so it has been quite tough. Creche is for children aged between 2 and 5 (from what I can tell). They arrive between 7 and 8.30 am and are picked up by their mother or siblings between 2 and 3 pm. Compared o a British nursery there is very little structure and discipline. At first we found this quite difficult because it is not what we are used to but now I can really see the benefit this crèche has for the Amaoti community. Breakfast (porridge) and lunch (soup) is provided every day- without this the children would not get enough food to eat. It also provides a save place for these children to play and have fun during the day away from the responsibilities that some of them will already have at home.
At Easter the crèche will be relocated so that they have toilets nearby and I feel this move will realise the potential that this crèche has. The LI team are praying for an understanding of God's vision for the crèche and hopefully we as a team will be able to help improve the building by painting it and putting up posters . The crèche are in desperate need of more toys but they use what they have to have fun, there is a lot of singing, hand clap and being spun around. The children love hugs and plying with our hair which we weren't quite prepared for!!
Today we arrived at 8 and found the children playing with the toys in the hut, breakfast was served before we went into singing in a circle. This is how the children learn numbers and the alphabet by copying what the teacher sings, they also have songs for the days of the week and months. . We have introduced a new idea of splitting the group into 2 so that the children have longer with the craft resources- this has been working really well. I took 1 group outside to play with and created a game with hoops that they really took to, this was a real blessing because it is hard to communicate with the language barrier. In the afternoon it was so hot (32 degrees) that the children couldn't play outside but instead went to sleep before they had their soup. Once they woke up though they had a lot of energy and continued playing.
Next week we are looking forward to leading the crèche.
Lot of love
Hannah
The rest of the team have been working in a primary and secondary school, you'll hear all about it next time!
We have had time for some fun too! We have had some trips to the beach, girly sleepovers (we learnt, well tried to learn, African dancing, played dares and ate crisps!)and a tour of Durban!! We are all excited to explore the area in our beautiful car in our time off. Sunday also involved 2 church services, one in a more affluent area (which started at 7.45!!!) and one in Amaoti, they were so different. The songs, buildings and language differ so much! Trying new food has also been great, tea and rusks seems to be a daily ritual which everyone but me partakes in!
That's all for now!!
Catherine
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Friday 7 February 2014
Sawubona from South Africa!!
So, after a mad dash through Jo-burg airport, involving lost bags, visa troubles, and security issues 6 sweaty LI members made it to Durban!!!
It's been a hectic few days here- some may even say a bit of an emotional rollercoaster- but we are starting to settle in to life in South Africa! We have spent the last few days being introduced to the people and projects that make up Lungisani Indlela, including creche, aftercare and numerous trips to the airport trying to sort out our transport. We can finally announce that the team are proud hire-ers of a Toyota Avensis, which will sit perfectly on the driveway of our homely team house. Living on our own for the first time has been really exciting. We have done pretty well feeding ourselves too- having had jacket potatoes for dinner last night!! We cant complain too much though as we have had a lot of help from Philile who cooks, cleans and leaves us lovely post it notes while we are at work.
We have been made to feel so welcome by Theo, Zanele and the LI family. We are looking forward to getting properly started next week and are excited to see what God has in store.
Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers,
Until next time!
With love from Abi and the team
So, after a mad dash through Jo-burg airport, involving lost bags, visa troubles, and security issues 6 sweaty LI members made it to Durban!!!
It's been a hectic few days here- some may even say a bit of an emotional rollercoaster- but we are starting to settle in to life in South Africa! We have spent the last few days being introduced to the people and projects that make up Lungisani Indlela, including creche, aftercare and numerous trips to the airport trying to sort out our transport. We can finally announce that the team are proud hire-ers of a Toyota Avensis, which will sit perfectly on the driveway of our homely team house. Living on our own for the first time has been really exciting. We have done pretty well feeding ourselves too- having had jacket potatoes for dinner last night!! We cant complain too much though as we have had a lot of help from Philile who cooks, cleans and leaves us lovely post it notes while we are at work.
We have been made to feel so welcome by Theo, Zanele and the LI family. We are looking forward to getting properly started next week and are excited to see what God has in store.
Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers,
Until next time!
With love from Abi and the team
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